The Odisha government formed a five-member technical committee to oversee the care of five baby orangutans rescued from the Balasore district, according to officials. The animals are currently housed at the Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, as confirmed by state reports.
Technical Committee and Expert Oversight
The newly established panel will assess welfare issues and provide technical inputs for the proper upkeep of the primates, according to an official order. The director of the Nandankanan Biological Park serves as the member-convener for the committee.
Additional members include a veterinary officer from Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in Mysuru, a representative from the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun, and the project coordinator of the Centre for Wildlife Health at OUAT in Bhubaneswar. According to the state order, the committee maintains the authority to consult or co-opt national and international experts and organizations when necessary.
Round-the-Clock Care and Rearing
State officials stated that the immediate priority is ensuring the animals receive optimal care at the Nandankanan hand-rearing centre, given that orangutans are not native to India. Chief Wildlife Warden and PCCF (Wildlife) PK Jha noted that three caretakers and doctors work round the clock to monitor the health of the young primates.
Aditya Acharya, head of the OUAT Wildlife Treatment Centre, reported that the rescued orangutans are gradually growing familiar with their human caretakers and accepting food readily. Acharya noted that their ease around handlers suggests previous contact with humans and prior care. According to a Nandankanan quarantine unit caretaker, the animals follow a specialized dietary chart receiving milk every two hours, apple and banana fluids, and boiled potatoes at regular intervals.
Enrichment and Health Updates
To reduce stress in captivity, officials provided the infant primates with soft toys and swings while playing music for them in their enclosure. Regarding medical recovery, one baby recovered from a fever, while two others recovered from a cold, according to zoo officials. The collection of blood samples for DNA testing was postponed for approximately ten days.
Smuggling Investigation and Rescue Context
The five orangutans were originally rescued from the Bichitrapur forest in the Bhograi block of Balasore district on September 8, according to state reports. In response to the recovery, the Odisha Police’s Special Task Force (STF) and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) intensified an investigation into international wildlife smuggling linked to the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the rescued baby orangutans currently kept?
The five baby orangutans are housed at the Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar under round-the-clock medical and caretaker supervision.
Who serves on the technical committee?
The panel includes the director of Nandankanan Biological Park as member-convener, a veterinary officer from Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in Mysuru, a representative from the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun, and the project coordinator of the Centre for Wildlife Health at OUAT.
Which agencies are investigating the smuggling case?
The Odisha Police’s Special Task Force (STF) and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) are actively investigating the international wildlife smuggling operation.
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